It’s All a Matter of Paying Attention-Daily Meditation 1.20.23

Today’s quotation:

It’s all a matter of paying attention, being awake in the present moment, and not expecting a huge payoff.  The magic in this world seems to work in whispers and small kindnesses.-Charles de Lint

Today’s Meditation:

We’ve been taught for so long that the big things bring us satisfaction that, in many ways, we’ve lost the ability to feel and appreciate the outstanding part of our life that the small kindnesses bring.  The considerable payoff is very rare and, to be honest, completely unnecessary when all is said and done.  If we attune ourselves to our worlds and learn to see the magic in the little things happening daily around us, we’ll see just how fortunate we are to have magic as part of our lives.

I’ve learned that a child’s kiss on my cheek makes me feel much better than attending a concert or a sporting event.  That kiss tells me that someone cares, that someone special loves me.  I’ve learned that a good book on a quiet afternoon is just as unique- if not more memorable- than dinner at a fancy restaurant.

The important part is to be in tune with what’s happening here and now and not wish we were somewhere else, keeping our minds on where we’re not.  When we’re able to do this, we come to find fantastic, magical things in all of our experiences.  As I write, I’m listening to perfect music; I’m working on a computer that couldn’t have existed twenty years ago. There’s light coming out of a couple of bulbs that allow me to be up past dark.  These things all are magic to me.

We need to recognize that person’s “thank you” as an expression of special gratitude.  That smile that little kid shared with you means something special, but only if you let it.  The flowers you see today are here briefly, so please enjoy them!  And the taste of the ice cream, the cherries, or the chocolate- well, that’s an exceptional gift.

Questions to consider:

How often are we disappointed because something doesn’t turn out as spectacular as we thought it would, instead of loving it for what it is?

From where do we get our tendency to overlook the magic that surrounds us all the time?

Can you list ten things within sight that someone from 200 years ago would consider a miracle?  Why don’t we consider them as such anymore?

For further thought:

The trouble with us is that we expect too much from the great happenings and the unusual things, and we overlook the common flowers on the path of life, from which we might abstract sweets, comforts, and delights.-Orison Swett Marden The Joys of Living

If you missed yesterday’s Daily Meditation, view it here.